HOW TO PLAY · SEASONAL EFFECTS
Read the realm before you decide what to do next
Your settlement does not develop in isolation. A season unfolds over time: temporary effects can change the economy, realm events can slowly develop, nearby empires may ask for help, and shared objectives can give many civilizations a reason to contribute to the same goal.
Seasonal Effects
Modifiers
Realm events
Unfold over time
Shared goals
Realm Objectives
SEASONAL EFFECT
1. Check what is happening in your realm
Click Seasonal Effects from your settlement interface to open the current season panel. It shows the season in play, active modifiers and realm events that are currently developing.
Make this part of your normal check-in
When you return to your settlement, do not only look at your own construction queue and resources. Open Seasonal Effects as well.
An active effect can temporarily alter realm conditions. For example, a trade condition might increase available quantity while also changing prices. These modifiers have their own duration, so the economic situation you see today does not have to remain the same for the entire season.
This gives you context for why certain resources may suddenly be more valuable to produce, stockpile, trade or send elsewhere.
ACTIVE REALM EVENTS
2. Seasons unfold instead of arriving all at once
Below the current seasonal effect you can see active realm events. These are developments within the season that play out gradually over time rather than appearing as one instant story dump. As the season progresses, new events can become active and the situation in the realm can evolve.
Season
In progress
Each realm is currently playing through a specific seasonal chapter.
Events
Active
Several realm events can be happening at the same time.
Progression
Gradual
Check back as time passes to see how the seasonal story develops.
Realm state
Changing
New developments can alter what is happening around your civilization during the season.
Seasonal effects and seasonal events are not the same thing
It helps to read the panel as two layers:
- Seasonal Effects are active modifiers. They can directly change conditions in the realm, such as quantity or price.
- Active Realm Events are developments within the current season. They slowly move the seasonal story forward and can create new context, opportunities or problems in the world.
You therefore do not need to consume the entire season in one sitting. Part of playing a persistent realm is returning later and finding that the situation has moved on.
EMPIRE REQUESTS
3. Help nearby empires and build Influence
Nearby empires can ask civilizations in the region for support. A request might need resources such as food or timber. Contributing what they need earns Influence with that power.
Example resource
Food
An empire may need supplies to deal with a regional problem.
Example resource
Timber
Construction or recovery efforts can create demand for basic materials.
Reward
Influence
Helping a power increases your Influence rather than being just a one-way resource sink.
Decision
Optional
Choose whether helping the empire is worth the resources your own settlement could use.
CHECK DEMAND
See what the empire actually needs
Do not assume every request wants the same goods. Read the active request before committing resources.
WEIGH THE COST
Your own settlement still needs supplies
Resources sent to an empire are resources you cannot use for construction or other immediate plans. Check your stockpile and queued projects first.
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
Influence gives helping a political value
Supporting a nearby power is not only economic. It also builds Influence with that empire and can help define your civilization's place in the region.
REALM OBJECTIVES
4. Look for a shared objective
A season can also introduce a Realm Objective: a larger goal that civilizations across the realm can contribute toward together.
How to approach a Realm Objective
Open the realm status
Check Seasonal Effects and see whether a Realm Objective is currently active.
Read what contribution is needed
The objective defines what the realm is trying to achieve and what your civilization can contribute.
Decide how much you can spare
Balance the shared goal against your own construction, production and expedition needs.
Contribute
Add your civilization's share to the objective while it is active.
Rebalance your settlement
After contributing, make sure you still have enough resources and production for the projects your civilization needs next.
Earn from participation
Contributors receive a portion of the income generated by the Realm Objective.
Why Realm Objectives matter
Realm Objectives turn part of the economy into a shared decision. You may be able to keep every resource for your own growth, or commit some of that production to something the wider realm is trying to accomplish.
Because contributing can return a share of the objective's income, the question is not simply whether you can afford to help. It is also whether participating is a good use of your civilization's current production.
EARLY-GAME RHYTHM
Settlement, season, world
A useful check-in rhythm is to look at three layers: your own settlement, the current Seasonal Effects panel and the wider World Map. Together they tell you what you are building, how the season is developing and what opportunities exist beyond your borders.
Settlement
Build
Manage resources and keep useful construction queued.
Season
Respond
Check modifiers, active events, empire requests and shared Realm Objectives.
World
Explore
Use expeditions to interact with opportunities beyond your city.
Civilization
Adapt
Shift production and priorities when the wider realm creates a better opportunity.
START HERE
↗Getting Started
Found your first settlement, queue construction, explore the map and make your first decisions.
Read the beginner guideWORLD
↗Exploration & Expeditions
Learn how expeditions connect your settlement to locations and opportunities across the realm.
Learn about explorationECONOMY
↗Player-Driven Economy
See how production, scarcity and resource decisions connect civilizations to the wider world.
Learn about the economyKeep one eye on your settlement and one on the realm.
The best next move is not always another building. Check the current effect, see which events are unfolding, find out who needs help and look for shared objectives before committing your resources.